Eva’s Song: Forever wisdom

Fri., Feb. 3, 2012

Eva Lassman stands next to the Spokane Community Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth Shalom in 2005. Lassman, a Holocaust survivor, died in 2011 at 91. She spent the last decades of her life talking to schoolchildren about the Holocaust. In “Eva’s Song,” a poem about her life written by Michael Gurian, Lassman says: “I am a Jew, and Jews were born to plant flowers even in the garden of a thousand sobs.” (File)

Rebecca Nappi

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, writer Michael Gurian will read his oratory poem “Eva’s Song” written in the voice of Holocaust survivor, Eva Lassman, who died a year ago at 91. The poem is stunningly beautiful with wisdom gems all over the place. I was able to put only a few of the verses in my story Thursday. Read here.

One of Eva’s main messages: Love the family and friends God put in your path in this life. They are there for a reason, even if they drive you crazy. (Sentiment in italics is my paraphrase)

Here are some lines that reflect this message:

What you must do, is keep your promises.

My dear friends, you must care for your family as a promise,

you must take photographs of loved ones, and realize:

they are your masterpiece.

(S-R archive photo of Eva Lassman)

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "EndNotes." Read all stories from this blog